Missouri Battalion Chief Commits Suicide Following Termination

Posted by: Curt Varone December 9, 2011 4 Comments

Last week we covered the story of the Monarch Fire Protection District’s decision to fire four chief officers over their involvement in a sexual harassment suit. According to news reports the men were not personally involved in the harassment, but were accused of not doing enough to stop it.

Now comes word that one of the accused chiefs, Battalion Chief Fred Goodson, committed suicide three weeks after he was let go. Chief Goodson was found in the woods near his home yesterday with what police describe as a self-inflicted wound.

Chief Goodson, 61, had been with Monarch Fire Protection district for thirty-six years. News reports claim the four fired chiefs had been at odds with the firefighters union, and that contributed to the decision to terminate them.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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